Pusher aligning means for conveyers



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July 8, 1952 c. G. CLARK PUSHER ALIGNING MEANS FOR coNvEyERs 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1951 INVENToR. ewes-rs@ s. a Amc, W ZJ 4 T ra R/V/ Jul? 8, 1952 c. G. CLARK PusHER ALIGNING MEANS FOR coNvEYERs 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1951 INVENTOR. n C/fse 6. CMR/r.

il` IllgTToQ/VEX July 8, 1952 c. G. CLARK PUSHER ALIGNING MEANS FOR coNvEYERs Filed Aug. 9, 1951 @Jem IIHIH) IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 8, 1952 PUSHER ALGNENG MEANS FR CGNVEYERS Chester Graham Clark, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The Udylite Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 9, 1951, Serial No. 2il,lfi6

12 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel mechanism for alining work pieces on a conveyor rail with respect to the work pushers on the rail. The invention is here disclosed with reference to plating apparatus, although not necessarily limited thereto as will later appear. v

The work is suspended from the rail by hooks or carriers, and the latter is advanced along the rail by pushers attached to an intermittently moving chain. In order to perform an operation on the work, a' separable section of the rail is moved transversely to bring the work pieces thereon to the treating apparatus. In a plating operation, this apparatus is one or more tanks disposed below the movable rail section,

When the movable section is returned to aline with the main rail, the work carriers on the section often lose'their proper relation to the corresponding pushersonvthe chain.l Such carriers either collide with or fall behind the corresponding pushers rather than in front of them, and the properfunctioning of the conveying apparatus is thereby interrupted until corrections can be made. j

The principal objectof this invention is to overcome this difficulty by bringing the carriers on the movable rail section into proper position in front of the pushers. The movable rail section is carried by a properly guided and actuated chassis. To accomplish the stated object ofthe invention, the chassis carries auxiliary pushers or work-moving members which are actuated on movement of the chassis to adjust the work carries t proper position relatively to the chain pushers as the movable rail section returns to the chain.

The work-moving members are in the nature of rocker arms pivotally mounted on the chassis. They are pivotally attached to an actuating rod slidably mounted on the chassis and parallel to the rail. The ends of the rod engage cams on the frame structure in which the chassis is mounted. One of the cams shifts the rod to eifect the aforementioned adjustment of the work carriers on the movable rail section, andthe other cam reverses the movement of the rod or sets the auxiliary work-moving members as the movable rail section is moved away from the pusher chain. 1

The inventionis fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of an installation embodying 'the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device of the invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical elevation thereof, partly in section;

Figure e isa section on the line i--d of Fig- Figure 5 is 'a section on the line 5--15 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail plan View showing the position of parts when the chassis is elevated; Y

Figure 7 is a similar view in the lower position of the chassis;

Figures 8 and 9 are details of Figure 3,l and Figure l0 is a section on the line lVQ--l of Figure 6.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

in Figure l is shown diagrammatically an endless overhead chain Vconveyor l for carrying work to and taking it from a plating apparatus 2. Thechain conveyor l carries 'spaced work pushersvS which move the work alonga rail as will presently be shown. The plating machine embodies an endless series or tanks '4 and a rail designated by the numer 5. Work is moved along the rail 5 by a chain conveyor or a reciprocating pusher bar as shown for examplein the copending application of John V. Davis, Serial No. 755,365, led J une'l8, 1947. This conveyor, which need not be detailedfhere, may move the work either direction with respect to the direction of the conveyor l, A loading and unloading mechanism between the two conveyors is designated generally by the numeral and may be constructed as shown in the copending application of John V. Davis, Serial No. 181y650, led August 26, 1950.

The invention is concerned with lowering the work from the conveyor l, dippingit into 1one or more tanks 'i and returning it to the same conveyor. This is a non-electrolytic process such as a cleaning operation. Although the invention is .not necessarily associated with plating, it is paror the chain Il and ride on the rail It. ljlooksv or carriers i3 are suspended from the rail and are advanced by the pushers as known in the art.

Adjacent to the tanks 'I is an elevator for raising and lowering a separable segment of the rail I0. This segment, as will be described, extends over both tanks, so that work may be moved onto one end of the segment, lowered, dipped into the tanks, moved along the tanks, elevated to the main rail and finally discharged from the segment to the rail proper.

The elevator embodies a suitable framework which may include a number of hollow posts or columns I5 braced by suitably positioned longitudinal members :I 'I. To the inner surface of each of the end columns is secured a vertical track I8 for guiding the aforementioned movable rail segment. Carriages I9 are provided at the respective tracks andare joined by a chassis member 29. Each chassis carries a pair of rollers 2I that ride in the track and another pair 22 .that ride on the edges of the track I8.

A series of transverse arms 23 are secured to the member 29 in spaced relation to each other and carry the aforementioned movable rail segment which is now identied by the numeral l'.

The arms 23 carry a set of alined bushings 24 in which is slidably mounted a rod 25 parallel to the rail section I0. The ends of the rod 25 carry rollers 26, 21 engageable respectively with cams 28 and 29 mounted on the end columns I5. A longitudinal member 30 is secured across the arms 23 to brace the structure and for another purpose that will presently be described. The cams are positioned at different levels and both slope upwardly in the direction of work travel. The lower cam 28 has its lower end positioned to be engaged by the roller 26 when the vertically movable chassis with the rail section I is in its lower position, dipping the work in the tanks 'I.

A vertical hydraulic cylinder 3| is mounted substantially at the center of the frame structure. The piston rod 32 exposed through the upper end of the cylinder is secured to an angle iron 33 which in turn is welded to the longitudinal member 20 of the movable chassis. Sprocket wheels 34 are mounted on the upper ends o'f the end columns I5. Over each sprocket wheel is passed a sprocket chain 35 having one end connected to a counterweight 36 mounted in the adjacent column I5. The other end of the chain is fastened to a plate 3I welded in the member 20 as a means of connecting the chain to the member 20. A bracket 38 is attached to each of the end columns I near the upper end thereof and receives a rod 39 adjustable vertically therein by a pair of nuts 40. 'Ihe rod 39v is in the upward path of the member 20 and is a stop for the upward movement of the chassis. lThe stops are adjusted to bring the movable rail I0' in accurate alinement with the xed rail I0.

Work is displaced from the xed rail I0 to the movable section l0 for immersion in the tanks 1. Timed mechanism, known in the art, is provided to stop the chain I and relieve the pressure in the cylinder 3I to permit the chassis to drop. After a proper interval the same mechanism charges the cylinder to raise the chassis and again advance the work. During these movements the carriers I3 on the rail section I0 are liable to be thrown out of vertical alinement with the overhead pushers 3. The causes of the misalinement may be the manner in which the work pieces hit the solution, momentum of the work carriers when the chain stops, vibration in the apparatus or in other machines in the shop, and the like. In many cases the carriers on the movable rail section will strike the pushers rather than take a position in front of them, and the result is an interruption in the smooth functioningr of the apparatus.

To correct this condition a number of rocker arms 4I are pivotally mounted as rst class levers on the pivot bar 3U by means of pins 42. At the pusher bar 25, each rocker arm has a lengthwise slot 43 receiving a pin 44 on the pusher bar. Near the opposite end, at the rail section I9', the rocker arm has a vertical iinger 45 adapted to swing against the corresponding pusher 3 as shown in Figure 10.

The cams 28, 29, as stated, slope upwardly in the direction of the chain travel. The cam 28 is so positioned that its lower end is engaged by the roller 26 of` the reciprocating rod 25 when the chassis is in its lower position. The bar 25 is thereby shifted rearward, swinging the ringer 45 forward, in the direction of work travel, and positively holding the engaged Vhooks I3 against slipping out of proper registration with the overhead pushers 3-. As the chassis rises, there is no danger of work slippage. The bar does not shift until its roller 2'I engages the upper cam 2,9. The bar 25 .then commences to shift in the direction of chain travel until the roller 21 reaches the high point of the cam 29, at which time the chassis has reached its uppermost position. The barA 25 swings the rocker arms 4I in the same direction and the ngers 45 are moved in the opposite direction or rearward with respect to the direction of chain and work travel. This is an idle movement that does not displace the hooks but merely sets the arms 4I for another operation on the downward movement as described.

On descent of the chassis, there is no movement of the rod 25 until the roller 26 engages the cam 28. At the bottom of the movement, the rocker arms 4I again advance and hold the hooks against displacement. y

The invention is also applicable to other apparatus wherein the work is moved by a separable rail section away from the main rail for treatment. Also, the treating apparatus is not necessarily below the rail and may lie spaced therefrom in any direction transverse of the rail. The claims are to be understood accordingly.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a conveying apparatus, a work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent to said rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structure transversely of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on work pieces carried by said section, a work-moving member movably mounted on said chassis, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a work carrier thereon, and means operable on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for moving said portion in the workadvancing direction.

2. 1n a conveying apparatus, a work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving work along said rail,. a

`frame structure adjacent to said rail,a chassis mounted for movement in-said-structme transversely 'of said rail, means :for moving said chassis, said rail 'having a separable section carried by said chassis, a Work-treating apparatus spaced transversely fromvsaid rail at said section for operating on work pieces-carried by said section, a Work-moving member movably mounted on said chassis, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to `engage a Work carrier thereon, an actuating member for said Workmoving member carried by said chassis, and an operating member carried by said structure and engageable by said actuating member on movement' of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for moving said portion in the Work-advancing direction.

3. In a conveying apparatus, a Work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent to saidV rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structure transversely of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on Work pieces carried by said section, a rod slidably mounted on said chassis parallel to said section, a work-moving member connected to said rod and to said chassis, one of the connections being a pivotal connection and the other being a slot-and-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a Work-carrier thereon, and means operable on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for sliding said rod and effecting a work-advancing movement of said portion.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving Work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent toy said rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structure transversely of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a Work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on work pieces carried by said section, a rod slidably mounted on said chassis parallel to said section, a work-moving member connectedr to said rod and to said chassis, one of the connections being a pivotal connection and the other being a slot-and-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a work-carrier thereon, an operating member for said rod lcarried by said structure and engageable by said rod on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for sliding said rod and effecting a Work-advancing movement of said portion.

5. In a conveying apparatus, a Work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushersV on said chain for moving work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent to said rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structure transversely of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on work pieces carried by said section, a rod slidably mounted onr said chassis parallel to said section, a work-moving member connected to said rod and to said chassis, one

` of the connections being a pivotal connection and the other being a slot-and-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to 'engage a- Work-carrier thereon, a cam carried bysaid structure and engageable by said rod on movement of said chassis toward said treating'apparatus forsliding said rod and eirecting a Work-advancing movement of said portion.

6. The construction defined in claim 1 further characterized by setting means for said member operable onl movement of said chassis toward said rail.

7. 'The construction deiined in claim 3y further characterized by reversing `means for said rod carried by said chassis and operable on movement of said chassis toward said rail.

8.'The construction denned in claim 5 further characterized by another cam carried by said structure and engageable by said rod on movement of said chassis toward said rail for sliding said rod in the opposite direction.

9. In a conveying apparatus, a work-supporting rail, a chain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving Work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent to said rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structure transversly of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a Work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on Work pieces carried by said section, a rod slidably mounted on said chassis parallel to said section, a Work-moving member connected to said rod and to said chassis, one of the connections being a pivotal connection and the other being a slot-and-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a work-carrier thereon, said rod lying between said rail section and the connection to the chassis, and means operable on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for sliding said rod and effecting a Work-advancing movement of said portion.

10. In a conveying apparatus, a Work-supporting rail, achain movable along said rail, pushers on said chain for moving Work along said rail, a frame structure adjacent to said rail, a chassis mounted for movement in said structurey transversely of said rail, means for moving said chassis, said rail having a separable section carried by said chassis, a Work-treating apparatus spaced transversely from said rail at said section for operating on Work pieces carried by said section, a rod slidably mounted on said chassis parallel to said section, a Work-moving member connected to said rod and to said chassis, one of the connections being a pivotal connection and theA other being a slot-in-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a Work-carrier thereon, said rod lying between said rail section and the connection to the chassis; an operating member for said rod carried by said structure and engageable by said rod on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for sliding said rod and eiecting a to said rod and to said chassis, one of the connections being a pivotal connection and the other being a slot-and-pin connection, said member having a portion positioned adjacent to said section to engage a Work-carrier thereon, said rod lying between said rail section and the connection to the chassis, a cam carried by said structure and engageable by said rod on movement of said chassis toward said treating apparatus for sliding said rod and effecting a Work-advancing movement of said portion.

12. The construction defined in claim 11 :further characterized by another cam carried by REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 2,048,937 Larson July 28, 1936 2,048,938 Larson July 28, 1936 

